is this an ancient sword/dagger?

Hi everyone, can anyone identify this piece I have? It looks like there are a few strips of metal forged together rather than one piece, it is 22cm long and 4cm wide it almost looks like a dagger or spear head. It had been washed up from the Irish sea,

 

That is almost impossible to ID from pictures. Do you have a museum in your area? They may be best qualified to examine it and help determine if it is an old weapon or blade.

 

thank you I will its definitely interesting thanks

 

The thinner stub on one end is too short for it to have been a weapon. The tang always extends the length of the handle for strength, that would snap off the handle quite easily.
It may be a metal marlinspike.

 

Would it be made from strips of metal forged together? As that seems to be the base for the object, I appreciate its hard to see from pictures I will take it to my local museum and will let you know what they say

 

Thank you, I love visiting beaches and usually collect beach rocks and sea gems the British beaches are full of treasures! Along the way I find unusual things this was one of interest to me it was kind of half buried in the muddy sand thanks for your input a trip to the museum is definitely needed I think

 

That does resemble a knife.

 

Thank you it certainly looks like one I don't think its modern the strips of metal make me think its ancient as you don't usually see modern knives/swords made that way, I'm only a beginner though so my imagination is wild

 

A bit of misconception... There are hundreds of blade smiths making layered blades today.Virtually every historic blade has been reproduced by hobbyist and professionals.

One UK smith http://owenbush.co.uk/seaxes/

 

There are lines there that may be indicative of a fuller. The tang, if it is one, should certainly be longer, but it might be broken. As the others have said you're going to need a hands-on look by someone who knows.

 

Thank you I'm open to everyone's suggestions and I value everyone's opinion

 

Thank you

 

Damascus steel is an example of a modern knife maker working layers together into a blade. It is very common actually.

 

The striated oxidation pattern looks like wrought iron. An x-ray would be able to see the basic outline of the item through the corrosion; it may look quite different from what the camera sees now. See if any institutions or businesses nearby would be curious enough to pay for an x-ray.

 

I'm with Springfld, thinking that the apparent layers may just be a result of the way the metal has rusted, rather than indicating layered/Damascus construction. And with MOS in thinking that the handle might well have been longer originally. Also, though weapons may usually have a long tang, it is common for less-expensive kitchen knives to have a short tang that is slotted into the handle; and inexpensive iron rusts much more quickly than one might think.

 

Without a professional looking at it,everything is just a guess.Depending on time period and culture knife and short swords had tangs much shorter than you may think.

Example here............ https://www.bladesmithsforum.com/index.php?/topic/15206-seax-project/

 

I'd agree with that, certainly; and that many weapons do have shorter tangs.

 

I hope that when you have consulted the museum you will come back here to report on their thoughts!